Avian Research Services

SER staff have the education and experience to construct an avian study for your project site. We have collaborated with local experts to perform several studies specializing in raptors, shorebirds, and waterfowl, as well as rare, threatened, and endangered bird species. Here is a brief description of some of the services we can provide:

Avian Censusing

We will census the site for birds using the point count method. Depending on the size of the area, a number of points would be designated during a preliminary investigation. After the points are located, a census schedule would be set up weekly during migration periods (March through May, August through October) and bi-weekly during nesting activities (June and July). All birds seen and heard from each census point would be counted, and flight direction and height would be noted and recorded on our field forms. By this method, flight patterns of birds through your project site could be determined.

Avian Mortality Studies

SER can also study avian mortality to determine if construction of structures such as wind turbines or radio towers has associated mortality. Our trained field observers would walk 300 foot wide transects upwind and downwind of the structure(s) in question weekly during spring migration and the nesting season, and daily during fall migration. These recommendations are based on our prior studies and a review of over 300 literature references pertaining to avian mortality at man-made structures, as well as telephone interviews with researchers currently studying this subject.

SER was contacted by the editors of a book by the American Radio Relay League,who wanted to include our study of radio tower effects on avian mortality (performed for Minnesota Public Radio) on a CD-ROM included with their book. The book, Antenna Zoning for the Radio Amateur by Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, is available through the ARRL Product Catalog